21 총선 투표율 오후 5시 현재 59.7% , 지난 총선보다 9.5%p 높아<br /><br />And now we head over to the National Election Commission.<br />Our Lee Kyung-eun is standing by to tell us more about the voting process and the voter turnout so far.<br />Kyung-eun, what's the latest?<br />Devin, we are inching closer to the final voter turnout.<br />The National Election Commission here has been keeping track of the numbers in real time.<br />As of 4 PM, the figure is at 59.7 percent.<br />That's around NINE-point-FIVE percentage points HIGHER than at the same time from the previous election...and well above the FINAL turnout of that election.<br />That's largely attributed to the early voter turnout which has been included as of 1 PM.<br />Despite concerns due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this year's early voter turnout hit a record high of 26.7 percent.<br />Right now, Jeollanam-do Province has the highest turnout with over SIXTY THREE-point-TWO percent.<br />It also experienced the highest participation for early voting last weekend.<br />But much attention is also on the southeastern city of Daegu the city hit hardest by COVID-19 in South Korea.<br />Traditionally, Daegu's turnouts were among the country's lowest.<br />But this year, the city is seeing some unprecedented developments, including clinching top spot briefly this morning.<br />It seems like COVID-19 has drawn people closer to politics, not pushed them away from it.<br />The polling stations will close at 6 PM, but the official final results will not be announced until very late this evening.<br />In all five previous general elections, only once, in TWO-THOUSAND-AND-FOUR, has the country seen a turnout of over 60 percent.<br />But based on the current trend, this year's final turnout could easily surpass that milestone.<br />Devin.<br />
